The removal of Wáng Yi Jun from his throne had been swift and bloodless. He had never been well liked and was wise enough that having been caught laying hands on his own son, he would never hold onto the respect his position demanded. Truthfully, his only true regret was his failure to taste the boy before he was dethroned.
His traitorous First son and army generals had held a blade at his throat as he wrote the edict declaring First Prince as Emperor, before he was transported to a retreat in the North. His concubines were offered the choice to follow him, but he had neglected so many of them over the years so very few were willing. Even Du Xinyi denied him, having had eyes for a Palace Guard for many years! The remaining Concubines were, by seniority, given recompense and allowed to return home to their families or found more humble homes in the Capital or city of their choice. As the coffers were squeezed, many Concubines needed to wait or accept smaller compensations. Some tried to seduce Wáng Jie Long and Wáng Yu Long, despite the latter claiming to have accepted a 'First Wife', in order to keep their lifestyles that they had grown accustomed to. They found themselves turned out with nothing.
Huang Lei He was released from the Cold Palace, she immediately began to scheme to reclaim the throne for her son. Who knew that it would actually be Wáng Ya Bao who told her off! He wanted to be a scholar like big brother Yu Long, not be an Emperor and stuck with lots of wives(he held to his original claims about girls and would for another six years or so)! Huang Lei He pleaded with her son, but he threatened her, saying he would ask Big Brother Jie Long to banish her if she did not behave! In the end, she was sent to the Southern Islands, where Huang Jing Ye was raising three sons and a daughter. Her 'grandfather' husband was quite vigorous!
Feng Chun had been completely shocked when Wáng Yu Long returned with both his future Husband and (temporary) Concubine wife. How was he to explain this event?! However, Jie Long had declared it simply; Wáng Yu Long had become the Guardian of the Heartlands Living God. This was the beginning of a new treaty between the nations and would bring the Empire new prosperity and refreshed trade. As the majority of the Empire didn't understand what being a Guardian actually entailed, they could phrase this without difficulties. Between the eunuch, Emperor, God and Guardian, they hashed out a formal treaty on parchment that even the most fickle of Ministers could not refute.
Wáng Jie Long moved into the Yang Palace, but stripped it of its any remaining possessions and furniture, declaring them as unpleasant. Any valuables were moved into the vault. It was easy to replace most things, ministers seeking to enter the Emperor's good graces gifted many items. Feng Chun hired craftsmen to create new furnishings and these men were generously compensated. The actual coronation was fairly low key, the Emperor declared that the tax money was needed first to begin restoration of the river banks in the East and South and as investment into the abandoned farms in the West. People still lined the streets to see the new Emperor, however. Ah how handsome!
For several days, Xiang Ah Liû moved into the White Orchid Palace with his husband. They did not share the same bed at first. Xiang Ah Liû actually knew very little marital matters; his arch priest always thought he would be able to discuss these things in time, not knowing that The Living God would claim (in a verbal sense) a partner before the actual ceremony. The extent of his knowledge was that a husband and wife share a bed and the wife will become pregnant. Which was why the maid, Keung Ai was now considered Concubine in his mind. Yu Long had shared a bed with her, so she might be carrying his child. As for marital matters between husbands...?
However Yu Long was plagued with dreams and cried out loud enough for his worried husband to hear. Xiang Ah Liû and a couple of eunuchs had entered his rooms to find him thrashing about in bed, sweat beading upon his brow. Ah Liû shooed the eunuchs away and saw to the man himself.
"Yu Long, it is me," he murmured, gently, touching the Prince's arm. With a slight Yelp, he found himself flung on the bed and embraced in shaking arms. As the Prince did nothing more than cling to him, he did not panic, simply rubbed the man's back in comfort. Yu Long settled into a deep sleep and Ah Liû drifted to sleep beside him.
The following morning, he found himself being kissed awake. Soft lips trailed over his cheeks and forehead, down his nose and upon his lips. "What are you doing?" Xiang Ah Liû asked.
"Morning kiss," Yu Long replied drowsily.
"Why?" He asked.
Yu Long paused for a moment, before saying; "Marital thing." The Second Prince had been surprised when the innocent Ah Liû had come into his room the first time and asked where he was meant to sleep. It was then he had discovered that the Living God knew nothing about actually what happened between a married couple, as he had been raised in the Temples since he was three. His parents were poor and they could only visit him once a year, even then they tended to not treat him as a son, but revered him. Most Priests abstained from relations and he had seldom spoken with the Guards so Ah Liû truly remained pure. As Yu Long did not trust himself to not touch his lover, he had shown him to the bedroom next to his own.
It was a pleasant surprise following an mostly unpleasant night, to discover that the owner of the voice that chased away his bad dreams was lying beside him that morning. He had kissed him in thanks at first, but that had swiftly changed to affection.
Xiang Ah Liû accepted the explanation, so returned with a peck on Yu Long's lips. A wicked smile appeared on the Prince's beautiful face, stealing away the vision of even the lovely God. In the next moment, his breath was stolen away as well as the Prince's mouth fell upon his own and suckled at his lips. A strange feeling began to move inside him as he surrendered to Yu Long's kiss. His mouth parted with a sigh and Yu Long took this as invitation to plunder his mouth with his tongue. The warm, wet muscle stroked along the walls of Ah Liû's mouth and caressed his tongue. Ah Liû whimpered as silver began to stream from his lips. He'd never experienced this 'marital thing' before, but he liked it. As Yu Long pulled away, he panted, his eyes misty from pleasure.
Yu Long pulled him closer and nuzzled into the small God's neck. "Thank you," he murmured.
"What for?" Xiang Ah Liû asked, still slightly breathless.
"Chasing away my nightmares," Yu Long replied. He shuddered. Wáng Yi Jun still chased him relentlessly in his sleep and then when he thought he had found his lover, he ended up waking up in Keung Ai arms instead and his lover had been no where to be seen.
"Always," Xiang Ah Liû replied.
They lay that way for sometime, Ah Liû thought at first that the Prince had fallen back to sleep. But this theory was proven wrong when he was asked; "What's it like in the Temples?"
"Usually, it's very quiet," he replied. "Except when I perform ceremonies or when Officials come for guidance."
"What sort of ceremonies?"
"Hmm, marriages, baptisms, funerals, oh but those I only perform for those considered 'important' or famous with the Holy Lands. But there are four seasonal ceremonies, I go to the necessary Temple for those."
"Seasonal ceremonies?"
"The Winter Festival, I offer blessings of strength and renewed health in the Winter Temple. In the Spring, it's for new life, fertility of the people and land and the Summer is for great harvests. Autumn is for the changing seasons, praying Winter will not be so harsh and also to give thanks to the ancestors."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Fun? Um... I have to attend some of the Official's parties, is that considered fun?"
"No," Yu Long grimaced. He had not had to go to many, but none could really be considered fun in his opinion. "What do you like to do?"
"I like to walk around the Temple Grounds, I know all of the good hiding spots," Xiang Ah Liû secretly confided. Yu Long smiled and snuggled closer. "I do like to play the dizi."
"I want to hear you play," Yu Long told him. It had been a long time since he had last heard his lover play the flute.
"Why so many questions?" Xiang Ah Liû asked curiously. People didn't usually ask him about himself, too busy asking for blessings and wishes.
"I want to know everything about you," The Prince replied. Ah Liû instantly felt warm inside. He knew he was right to trust his feelings, this man was his Guardian, his husband.
"Then ask away," Ah Liû invited.
"What sort of food do you like to eat?"
"Salted vegetables and rice!"
"That is to easy to cook, do you not like meat?"
"You can cook? Really? What kind of things can you cook? Ah as the Living God, a nature deity, I am not allowed to eat meat."
"Anything you want to eat, I can cook. But really, no meat?"
The two men stayed curled up in bed talking about many small things, not caring about the outside world until they could ignore it no longer. Wáng Jie Long was not used to breakfasting alone and wanted the company of his brother. Having decided that he had waited long enough, he had sent Feng Chun to rouse the two husbands from their bed. After a while, he wished he hadn't. It was all too pink! Perhaps he should spend some time looking for a wife or two.